Shearing machine



Aug. 4, 1931. s. w. RUSSELL.

'SHEARING MACHINE s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12. 1927 g- 4, 1931- G. w. RUSSELL 1,817,039

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 4, 1931. G. w. RUSSELL SHEAR'ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 4, 1931 srarss GEORGE W. RUSSELL, OF WAR-BEN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AETNA STANDARD ENGI- NEERING COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOVIN, 018110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SI-IEARING BIA HINE Application filed February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,608.

This invention relates to shearing machines, and will be herein described as applying to the shearing of a sheet of strip ma terial, although it has other applications.

Recent developments in the art of sheet rolling have led'to the production of sheets of material sometimes one hundred fifty to two hundred feet long, which sheets are cut into lengths, doubled and rolled to final thickness. 7

In rolling such long sheets, so much time is consumed that the trailing end of the sheet is appreciably cooler at the time it reaches the rolls than was the leading end at the time it was in the rolls. As a result, the sheet is wedge shaped, the trailing end being thicker than the leading end. The long sheets or strips vary considerably in length, but are generally of substantially the same weight. 2 It therefore becomes desirable to shear the sheet into sections which may be of varying length, but which are of substantially equal weight, and to-reroll these sheared sections.

1 provide a shear and feed means therefor. The f ed means is controlled in such manner that the sheet may be cut into portions of desired weight. A gauge means is provided and the position of the first and last cuts on the sheet is determined by the operator. The driving connection for the feed means is effective for making the intermediate cuts at the right points. The sections into which the sheet is cut may be made of substantially uniform length as is desirable if the sheet is of uniform thickness from end'to end. The sections cut from various long strips may be of varying length, depending on the relative length of the long strips themselves. I employ a variable ratio connection in the drive for the feed means. This variable ratio connection is adjusted by the operator when he determines the position of the first and last cuts.

In order to take care of the change in thicktfi nfess of a sheet or strip which is to be sheared,

i provide means for adjusting the variable ratio connection as the shearing operation progresses. in this manner, assuming that it d tired to cut sheets which are thicker if; than leading end,

the apparatus will be effective for shearing successively shorter lengths from the strip. iileans is provided for varying the amount of change so as to take care of different rates of change in thickness of the long strip or sheet.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the present preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the shearing mechanism and the means for supplying material thereto,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation, to enlarged scale, of the shearing mechanism proper,

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure 3, V

F igure5 is a diagrammatic view showing a part of the driving connection for the feed means, and Figure 6 is an end view of a part of the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 7 is a partial circuit diagram of the electrical apparatus embodied in the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is shown a shear 2 actuated by eccentrices 3 on a shaft 4. The shaft is provided with a slidable clutch portion 5. A gear 6, having cooperating clutch teeth 7, rotates freely on the shaft 4. The gear 6 meshes with a pinion 8, which pinionis driven from a gear 9. The pinion 8 and gear 9 are connected to a shaft 10. The gear 9 meshes with a pinion 11 on a shaft 12. This shaft carries a fly wheel 18 and is driven through a silent chain connection 14 from a motor 15.

lVhen the clutch member 5 is in engagement with the teeth 7 the shaft 4 is rotated and the shear 2 moves up and down at regular intervals.

The end of the shaft 4 remote from the gear 6 carries a disk 16 on which is mounted a crank pin 17 (Figure 5). A slider block 18, mounted on the pin 17, engages a slot 19 in a rocker arm 20 which is mounted on a shaft 2-1. The periphery of the rocker arm 20 is formed into a gear segment 22, The gear st alent 22 ages a pinion which is w an a shaft It will be seen that. as an;

' rial to the shear.

the shaft 4 rotates, the shaft 24' will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other direction. The direction of rotation of the shaft 4 isindicat'ed by an arrow r in Figure 5, and the positions of the crank pin 17 for the ends of the stroke oftherocker arm 'are indicated at a and I).

It will be observed that going in the direction of rotation, the distance from b to a is considerably'greater than the distance from a'to b. When the crank pin 17 is moving from b to a, the rocker arm 20 movesin the direction of the arrow 7, and actuates connections with the shaft 24 for feeding mate- The return stroke of the rocker arm 20 is made during the time that the'crank: pin=17 is'moving' from any to Z2, and the eccentrices3 are so timed with the crank pin that shearing is effected during this.

period:

It will beseenthat considerablymore than 180 ofrotation of the shaft 4 is allowed for the feeding stroke. Shearing may be accomplished in a relatively short time, and i. with: my construction the machine may be operated: at a faster rate than can machines where only one half revolution of .the shear actuatingshaft is availablefor thefeeding stroke; i

The shaft 24- carries 1 a two-toothed ratchet wheel which is-adapted to engage a pawl 26 secured to a gear 27. The gear 27 is freely rotatable on the, shaft 24. The rocker arm 20 and'pinion 23are so proportioned that the shaft 24 makes a revolution in one-direction or the" other on each-stroke of the rocker arm 20. When the rocker arm moves in the direction of the arrow 7, the ratchet wheel 25 engages the pawl 26-and rotates the gear27 3111 a counter-elockwlse direction for one complete revolution. On the return stroke of the rocker arm, the gear27 remains stationand the ratchetlwheel 25 rotates in a clockwise direction under the pawl 26. A

' is step. by step movement is: thus imparted to the gear 27;" I

The gear 27 engages a gear 28 keyed. to one shaftof avariable ratiodevice indicatedgenerally by the reference character- 29'. The

particular device shown isthe well lznown I Reeves variable. speed coupling; Tl iisdevice consistsof a. pair of parallel shafts 3.0 and 31 having mounted thereon cone pulleys The cone pulleys on'each shaft have opposed faces and they may be moved toward or away from one another by arms 33 pivoted to the frame at 34. The position of the arms.33,and,

therefore, the position of the cone pulleys 32 on the shafts and 31, is determined by rotating a shaft 35. This shaft is; connected to; the arms.3t3: by links 36. A belt 37 extends around the shafts 30*and 31 and engages the faces offthe-cone pulleys; The belt is laterally stiffened by cross bars 38, and its edges engage the faces of the'pulleys. By shifting the i the motor 61.

The feed rollers are interconnected by pinions 42 (Figure 4) so that all of them may be driven. Only one: pinion is shown, as it will be obvious that any desired drive may be employed. The pinions permit of each pair of rolls being spread apart, as hereinafter set forth, to facilitate entering of the sheet. Exit rolls 43 are also connected to the drive for the feed rolls 41., Therolls-43insure that the sheared material will be removed from the apparatus as fast as shearing-is accomplished. The scrap materialfalls toa conveyor belt 44, a guide or deflector 45 being employed to assist in the transfer. The delivery belt 44 is driven by a silent chainidrive 46 connected through a shaft 47 and mitregears 48 to the shaft 4. Y

The apparatus as so far described is effective for shearing material into lengths and provision is found in the variable ratio'device for varying the length of the sheared portions. The apparatus for'dividing sheets ofvariable length into a desired number of parts will now be described. 7

The-sheets of material which it is desired toshear are indicated atTS in Figure 2. They are carried on a bed-49, placed at the rear of the shearingmachine. Figures 1, 2 and 3-illustra-te the mechanism whereby the topsheet in-the stack is carried'forward to-the shearingmechanism. A frame-50 is mounted on parallel arms 51 and 52. The arms are carried by shafts 53 and 54-. A; gear 55 is keyed to the shaft 53'and meshes with a pinion 56 driven by a motor 57. The-motor is controlled by a switch lever 58'.

A pair of feed rolls 59 is mounted on the frame 50. These rolls are ordinarily pressed together" by springs 60 (Figure 3). They aredriven' by a-motor 61 operating through speed? reducer 62 andza sprocket chain 63.. for controlling- A switch lever 64 is provided A lifter arm 65, pivotally mounted on-the frame 50 at 66;.1sprovided for holding the feed rolls apart when desired. A; dog 67 1s..1no1'l-nted x1e frame 50. lViththe parts in-the position shown in Figure 3, the dog engages a pi-ne68on the arm and holds the rolls apart. I

VVihenitis desired to feed a-sheet, the motor 57' is actuated to swing'the arms 51 and 52- in a clockwise direction, thus swinging the rame 50 over the stack of sheets and to the dotted line position of Figure 3. During this rearward travel the feed rolls are held apart and-a workman l'i ts the front end of the top sheet in the stack so that it passes between the feed rolls. Vhen the frame 50 nears the end of its rearward travel, the dog 67 is en- I gaged by a lug 67a which forces the dog out of engagement with the pin 68 and thus permits the feed rolls 59 to come together. The motor 61 is then operated until the leading end of the sheet lies alongside a gauge mark 69 on a guide 70. This gauge mark is removed from the point of shearing a distance equal to the total travel of the frame 50. The shearman so manipulates the switch 64: that the feed rolls 59 feed the leading end of the strip past the gauge mark 69. Figures 1 and 4 show in dotted lines the leading end of the sheet advanced to a point alongside the gauge mark. The mark indicates to the shearman the line of the first out. It will be understoo that at this time the frame 50 is still in its rearward position.

The next step in the feeding operation is to move the frame 50 from its rearward position to its forward position so as to move the leading end of the sheet into the shear. This is done by operating the motor 57 in a reverse direction, thus rotating the arms 51 and 52 counter clockwise. During the forward movement of the frame 50, the rolls 59 are not rotated and the sheet is pulled fori ward. The speed reducer 62 acts as a lock to prevent the rolls 59 from turning during the forward movement of the frame 50. During this feeding operation the several pairs of feed rolls 41 are held apart so as to permit entry of the leading end of the sheet.

The forward stroke of the frame 50 carries the leading end of the sheet under the shear 2 and since the gauge mark 69 is placed a distance away from the shear 2 correspond- 1 ing to the amount of travel of the frame 50, the sheet will be positioned for a shear cut at the point indicated by the gauge mark 69.

During the forward stroke of the frame 50, the dog 67 rides on the pin 68. At the end of the stroke .the arm is engaged by a stop 67b (FigureB) which is effective for spreading the feed. rolls so as to permit of the sheet passing freely through the shear. \Vhen the arm is engaged by the stop 67?) the dog 67 drops into position and locks the feed rolls apart.

With the leading end of the sheet thus placed in position for the first cut, it is next necessary to gauge the trailing end of the sheet. This is done by a pointer 71 connected to a chain 72 running alongside the support 19. The chain runs over an idle sprocket 73 and an active sprocket 74. The active sprocket is connected through spur gearing 75 and mitre gears 76 to a shaft 77. The shaft 77 is driven by a motor 78 (Figure 1) through a speed reducer 79 and spur gearing 80. The motor 7 8 is controlled by a switch 81 having an operating rod 82 extending along the support 49 and provided with handles 83 at different points along its length.

The shaft 77 is connected to one shaft of a change speed gear box 84. The gear box is provided with a driven shaft 85. The driven shaft 85 is connected through mitre gears 86 to a shaft 87. The shaft 87 carries a worm 88 meshing with a worm wheel 89. As the worm wheel rotates in one direction or the other, it swings an arm 90 connected through a link 91 to an arm 92. The arm 92 is keyed to the shaft 35 and is effective for changing the setting of the variable ratio connection 29. Therefore as the pointer 71 moves back and forth along the support 19 the variable ratio connection will be adjusted. By actuating the shifting handle 83 of the gear box 84:, the amount of adjustment of the variable ratio connection for a given movement of the pointer 71 may be changed. In this manner, it is possible to provide for cutting a strip into the desired number of pieces having the proper length. The method of operating will be explained in detail later.

As above mentioned, the feed rolls are held apart while the leading end of the strip is being moved into the shear. The mechanism for holding the feed rolls 4-1 apart is shown in Figure 3. Each upper roll is normally pressed downwardly by springs 94:. Bell crank arms 95, pivoted to the frame at 96, are effective for lifting the upper rolls when desired. The bell crank arms are connected by links 97. One of the bell. cranks has a special arm 98 to which is connected a rod 99. The rod extends through a block 100 which is pivotally mounted on the arm 51. lVhen the frame 50 is moved to its rearward position, the block 100 slides along the rod 99 until it engages a pair of nuts 101 which act as an adjustable stop. The stop 101 is so placed that it is engaged by the block 100 just before the frame 50 reaches the end of its rearward stroke. The last part of the rearward stroke is therefore effective for pulling on the rod 99 and spreading the feed rolls apart. A dog 102 looks the arm 98 against return movement so that the feed rolls are held apart on the forward stroke of the frame 50.

The shearing operation is carried out by releasing the dog 102 so as to bring the feed rolls 41 into engagement with the sheet and by shifting the clutch member 5 so as to throw the shear into operation. On each revolution of the shaft 4 the strip is sheared. and is then fed forward in an amount depending upon the setting of the variable ratio connection. be last cut will be made at a point corresponding to the setting of the gauge mark 71. Means for actuating the dog 102 and the clutch member 105 is hereinafter described.

It is characteristic of the Reeves transmission that a material change in settinq can only be accomplished when the transmission is running. I take care of this condition by connecting the shaft 31 with the shaft 10 during the adjusting period.- -The shaft 3-1 carries a gear 103' meshing with a gear 10 1..

The gear 10-1 rotates freely on the shatt 10 but is arranged to be driven by the shaft 10 when a clutch memiber105' is in engagement with the gear. A lever 106 engages the cl'utclrmemhers 5 and 105* so that when the clutch member 5- engages the teeth 7 the clutch member 195 d-i'sengages the clutch teeth on the" side of the gear 104 and vice versa. It. followsthat if'the main drive is disconnected the shaft 31 of thevariable ratio'transmission will be driven. The feed rolls 41 and the gear 27 will also be driven through this connection, but this is immaterial.

order that the various parts of the mechanism maybe stopped in the proper position, Iprovide a semi-automatic mechaani'sm-r for operating the clutch members 5. This is best shown in Figure 6 The clutchmember 5 is provided with a face caur 107 7 having a high portion 108. The clutch meme I 107, and as soon as it encounters the rise'108,

ber 5"is normally urged into engagement with the teeth 7 by a spring.v A plunger 109 is norm ally urged to the position shown: in Figure 6* by a spring 110, but it may be retracted by energizing a magnet 111. So long as the plunger 109 is retracted, the clutch member will be in engagement with the teeth 7. If

the plunger 109' is then raised to the posi ti'on of Figure 6, it will engage the taco cam will disengage the'cl'utch member 5 and en'- gage the clutch member and will hold the parts in such position until the plunger is again withdrawn by energizing the solenoid 111. A magnet ,112 (FigureS') is arranged to tripthe clog 102' when energized.

- The magnets 111' and 112 are controlled by connected with the shear 2 in its-upper position and with the rocker arm 20- ready to make a complete feeding'stroke'.

The switclrbuttons are effective'forenergiZ'in-g' the magnets 111 and 112 and'thus set tin'g" the shear into operation. They will normally be actuated by the" workman was sets-the gauge point 71. He can thus set the shear into operation as soon as he has determinedthe position of the last cut.

The apparatus as so far described is eflectwo for cutting a strip lnto sheets of equal length. The means for adjusting the variable ratio connection as the shearing opera ti'on progresses will new be described; It

is'this' a paratus which creative-fer 7 The rise 108 on the clutch member 5 is so positioned that the shaft 4 will be disei-moss gress-i'vely varying the length ot the sheared sheets, thus compensating for increase in thickness;

The shaft 87 is connected through gears with the ratchet wheel 115', causes a partiaf rotation of the shaft 87 and a corresponding adjustment of the variable ratio connection; The amount of this supplemental adjustment may be varied by changing the setting of the stud 119 i-n-the slot 120.

lVhen it is desired to cut a'strip into progressirely varying lengths the pawl 116' is left in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 115. Therefore, every time the rocker arm 20 makes a stroke the variable ratio con nection is adjusted in a certain amount'depending upon the fitting of the stud 119 into the slot 120 Since the feed rolls are actuated through the variable ratio connection it follows that the amount the strip is fed forward upon successive actuations' of the feed roll will vary in an amount depending upon the amount of adjustment of the connection. v I

Having completed the description of the structure of the invention, I shall now outline briefly the method of operation. In the following explanation, it will be assumed that a strip has just passed through the shears and'that the electro-magnets 111 and 112' are energized sothat the clutch 7 is engaged'to drive the feed rolls .41 through the variable speed drive 29 and to permit the feed rolls 4:1 to engage their co-operating rolls under the influence of the springs 94. The motor 15 is continuously energized and furnishes the driving force for the machine. p

In order to start another strip through the machine, the-switch 58 is closed to'drive the motor 57 in such direction as to rotate the arms 51nd 52 in a clockwise direction. The rolls 59 are separated because of the previous engagement of the stop 67 with the arm 65, and they are maintained in this position by engagement of the dog 6'? with the pin 68. his the arms 51 and 52 approach their rearenergi'ze the electromagnets' 111 and 112. The deenergization of theelectromagn'et 111 d'isengag s L 105 to become engaged. Theclenergiz'ation of the electromagnet 112 permits the detent 102 when the lock 100 has engaged the lock nuts 101, as a result of the movement of t 1% I,

most position, theswitch 1 1 is operated to deg he clutch5 causes the clutch to lock the rod 99 in its retracted position 53. and 52,: The disengagement of clutch variable ratio ment of the shearing operation. head end is between the shear blades in position for the first cut, it remains only to adjust the variable speed drive so that the length of the fixed number of sheets cut from 5 causes the shaft 4 to come to a standstill, so that the shear 2is no longer reciprocated.

-The variable speed drive 29 would likewise come to a stop, except for the engagement of the clutch 105 which drives it directly from the shaft 10.

The strip to be sheared is placed between the rolls 59 before the arms 51 and 52 reach the rear limit of their motion, at which point the stop 67a trips the dog 67 to permit the rolls 59 to engage the strip. The switch 64 is operated to start the motor 61, which drives these rolls. The strip is advanced until its head end is in line with the gauge mark 69 on the guide 70. The switch 64 is then operated to start the motor 61 and the switch 68 is operated to reverse the motor 57 to restore the arms 51 and 52 to their normal position. The feed rolls 41 are maintained separated by the detent 102 which engages the drive line 9, so that the head end of the strip is placed between the feed rolls, although the latter do not engage it tightly.

The strip is now ready for the commence- Since its the strip will be properly adjusted to ensure that the entire strip is sheared into the fixed number of sheets.

' In order to adjustthe variable speed conlies adjacent the end of the strip. Simultaneously, the variable speed drive is adjusted so that the movement of the strip through the shear between successive shearing operations will be such as to divide the entire strip into a fixed number of sheets. The variable speed drive 29 is maintained in rotation by engagement of the clutch 105. When this adjustment has been completed, the shear is ready to be started. The change gear box 84 is provided to permit a variation in the change of the setting'of the device 29 by. a given movement of the pointer 71 and the change gear box .will be set so as to cause the proper change in the setting of the variable speed drive 29 for a given movement of the pointer, to make allowance for the variations in strip lengths.

To start the shear, the operator closes one of the switches 113, which energizes the electromagnets 111 and 112. The energization of the electromagnet 111 causes the clutch 5 to become engaged so that the feed rolls 41 may be driven through the variable speed connection 29 at the proper speed. The energization of the electromagnet' 112 causes the withdrawal of the detent 102 to permit the feed rolls 41 to grasp the strip and advance it through the shear.

device 29 after the shearing mechanism has commenced operation. As the rocker arm 20 oscillates, the lever 117 causes a step by step movement of the pawl 115, which effects a progressive adjustment of the variable speed drive 29. It will thus be apparent that the latter is adjusted twice in the shearing of a strip. The first adjustment is that resulting from the movement of the index 71 to the end of the strip. This adjustment accounts for variations in the length of the strips. The second adjustment is that effected by the ratchet and pawl, and compensates for differences in thickness of the two ends of the strip. If the strip is of uniform thickness,

the pawl 116 may be disengaged from the ratchet 115, so that all the sheets are sheared to the same length.

WVhen the strip has passed through the shear and the last cut has been taken at the point at which the index 71 was set, the conditions are the same as those assumed at the beginning of this explanation, a complete cycle of operations having been described. This cycle is completed for each strip sheared.

The adjustment of the automatic control of the variable speed device 29 is effected by shifting the stud 119 in the slot 120 of the disc 121. The setting of the stud 119 need be changed only when the rate of change of thickness of strips varies. Since all the strips in the given batch will have substantially the same rate of change of thickness from end to end, it will not be necessary to set the stud 119 very often. I

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and explanation that I have provided a shearing machine which is .adapted to shear strip material into a predetermined number of sheets having variable lengths controlled in accordance with the thickness of the strip. Variations in the lengths of the strips are accounted for by adjusting the speed of the feeding mechanism, so that the entire strip is sheared into the required number of sheets.

I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the follow-v maintained non-rotatable and efiective for gripping the material when the frame is moved toward the shear.

16. In a shearing machine, shear means, feed means and means actuated upon operation of the machine for automatically moditying the action of the feed means so as to vary the distance the material is fed upon different actuations of the feed means.

17. In a shearing machine, shear means, intermittently operated feed means and means actuated upon operation of the ma chine for automatically modifying the action of the feed means so as to vary the distance the material is fed upon difierent actuations of the feed means.

18. In a shearing machine, shear means, feed means, drive means effective for intermittently actuating the feed means, said drive means including a variable connection and means actuated automatically by movement of the machine for adjusting the variable ratio connection so as to cause a diiference in the amount of material fed upon different actuations of the feed means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE IV. RUSSELL 

